Real Madrid’s recent win against Benfica was marred by a significant incident when Vinicius Junior had to walk off the pitch due to alleged racial abuse. The match was halted for ten minutes after Vinicius expressed his frustrations to referee Francois Letexier, pointing out accusations against Gianluca Prestianni, a Benfica player.

During the match, after scoring, Vinicius faced derogatory comments, with statements indicating the term “mono”—translated as ‘monkey’ in English—was used.

Thierry Henry, a CBS Sports analyst, spoke up, recalling similar challenges he faced throughout his career. “People fought hard for the opportunity for us to showcase our talents, and dealing with this in 2026 is tiring,” he mentioned. He continued, reflecting on how loneliness accompanies such incidents, noting that often it’s a matter of one person’s word against another’s, leaving the players in a vulnerable position.

Following the substitution of Prestianni in the 81st minute, Benfica’s fans applauded him despite the accusations. Mourinho attempted to downplay the situation, suggesting that Vinicius celebrated inappropriately after scoring.

Henry posed a poignant question, urging for deeper contemplation on whether athletes are merely here to entertain amidst ongoing racial issues.

“I want to know what [Gianluca Prestianni] said. That’s when the game stopped, not due to the celebration.”
Thierry Henry reflects on José Mourinho’s comments after the match.

UEFA has initiated an inquiry into the discriminatory behavior during this game, highlighting the importance of addressing such concerns as they arise.